Cat population and trend survey report in major countries around the world
I. Overview of global cat ownership
1. Overall data
According to statistics from the World Pet Association (WPA) in 2023, the number of domestic cats in the world is about 450 million, accounting for 32% of the total number of pets
Regions with the highest cat penetration rate: Western Europe (42% of households have cats), North America (38%), Japan (28%)
2. Country/region ranking (2022 data)
Country Number of domestic cats (10,000) Per capita ownership rate (cats/100 people)
United States 9,430 28.4
China 6,800 4.8
Russia 2,280 15.6
Brazil 2,250 10.5
Japan 1,160 9.2
France 1,520 22.3
(Data source: Statista/WPA/Euromonitor)
II. Regional characteristics analysis
1. North America
The United States: the world's largest cat-owning country, with nearly 40% of households owning at least one cat
Trend: The number of pet adoptions surged by 23% after the epidemic (ASPCA data), and the penetration rate of technology products such as smart litter boxes reached 18%
2. Europe
Russia: Orthodox tradition regards cats as mascots, and the number of cats in Moscow exceeds 2.5 million
Turkey: Street cat culture is unique, and the government has established a "cat constitution" to protect the rights of stray cats
3. Asia
Japan: Aging has given birth to the "cat economy", and the number of cat cafes exceeds 500
China: The cat ownership rate in first-tier cities has exceeded 20%, and the post-90s generation has become the main consumer group (accounting for 63%)
4. Middle East
Islamic culture has a friendly tradition for cats, and the annual consumption of pet cats in Saudi Arabia has increased by 31%
III. Research on influencing factors
1. Economic dimension
Countries with a per capita GDP of more than US$30,000 have a significantly higher cat ownership rate (correlation coefficient 0.72)
The global cat food market size reached US$42 billion (2023), and the growth rate of high-end natural food reached 15%
2. Social culture
Single economy drive: The increase in the number of people living alone is positively correlated with the rate of cat ownership (R²=0.68)
Social media influence: Instagram has an average of 1.8 million new cat-related posts per day
3. Policies and regulations
Germany: Mandatory pet chip implantation and liability insurance
Australia: The annual killing of 2 million stray cats has triggered animal protection disputes
IV. Development trend forecast
Technology pet raising: The market size of smart cat raising equipment is expected to reach US$7.4 billion in 2025
Health upgrade: The annual growth rate of functional cat food (weight loss/urinary health) exceeds 25%
Environmental controversy: Domestic cats kill 24 billion wild animals each year, triggering ecological discussions
Emerging markets: The number of pet cats in India has increased by 83% in 5 years, and Vietnam has increased by 121%
V. Challenges and suggestions
Industry norms: Establish a global unified pet welfare standard
Ecological balance: Promote indoor breeding and sterilization programs
Cultural integration: Develop pet products that comply with Islamic teachings
Data improvement: Establish a dynamic global pet database
Written by: Xiaoxing Xiaohong
Date: March 8, 2025
Cat population and trend survey report in major countries around the world
I. Overview of global cat ownership
1. Overall data
According to statistics from the World Pet Association (WPA) in 2023, the number of domestic cats in the world is about 450 million, accounting for 32% of the total number of pets
Regions with the highest cat penetration rate: Western Europe (42% of households have cats), North America (38%), Japan (28%)
2. Country/region ranking (2022 data)
Country Number of domestic cats (10,000) Per capita ownership rate (cats/100 people)
United States 9,430 28.4
China 6,800 4.8
Russia 2,280 15.6
Brazil 2,250 10.5
Japan 1,160 9.2
France 1,520 22.3
(Data source: Statista/WPA/Euromonitor)
II. Regional characteristics analysis
1. North America
The United States: the world's largest cat-owning country, with nearly 40% of households owning at least one cat
Trend: The number of pet adoptions surged by 23% after the epidemic (ASPCA data), and the penetration rate of technology products such as smart litter boxes reached 18%
2. Europe
Russia: Orthodox tradition regards cats as mascots, and the number of cats in Moscow exceeds 2.5 million
Turkey: Street cat culture is unique, and the government has established a "cat constitution" to protect the rights of stray cats
3. Asia
Japan: Aging has given birth to the "cat economy", and the number of cat cafes exceeds 500
China: The cat ownership rate in first-tier cities has exceeded 20%, and the post-90s generation has become the main consumer group (accounting for 63%)
4. Middle East
Islamic culture has a friendly tradition for cats, and the annual consumption of pet cats in Saudi Arabia has increased by 31%
III. Research on influencing factors
1. Economic dimension
Countries with a per capita GDP of more than US$30,000 have a significantly higher cat ownership rate (correlation coefficient 0.72)
The global cat food market size reached US$42 billion (2023), and the growth rate of high-end natural food reached 15%
2. Social culture
Single economy drive: The increase in the number of people living alone is positively correlated with the rate of cat ownership (R²=0.68)
Social media influence: Instagram has an average of 1.8 million new cat-related posts per day
3. Policies and regulations
Germany: Mandatory pet chip implantation and liability insurance
Australia: The annual killing of 2 million stray cats has triggered animal protection disputes
IV. Development trend forecast
Technology pet raising: The market size of smart cat raising equipment is expected to reach US$7.4 billion in 2025
Health upgrade: The annual growth rate of functional cat food (weight loss/urinary health) exceeds 25%
Environmental controversy: Domestic cats kill 24 billion wild animals each year, triggering ecological discussions
Emerging markets: The number of pet cats in India has increased by 83% in 5 years, and Vietnam has increased by 121%
V. Challenges and suggestions
Industry norms: Establish a global unified pet welfare standard
Ecological balance: Promote indoor breeding and sterilization programs
Cultural integration: Develop pet products that comply with Islamic teachings
Data improvement: Establish a dynamic global pet database
Written by: Xiaoxing Xiaohong
Date: March 8, 2025
